Today’s BearCruise group’s schedule of activities
Tuesday, September 30 – Portland, Maine
11:30 am – 7 pm – In port in Portland.
1:00 pm – 5 pm – BearCruise NE – Portland by Land and Sea – Follow the meeting instructions on your voucher from Compass Tours.
2:00 – 4 pm – BearCruise NE – Private Portland Walking Tour – Follow the meeting instructions on your voucher from Compass Tours.
4 pm – Pool / Hot Tub Takeover. If you are back on board, join other BearCruisers on Deck 15 midship at one of the pools or hot tubs.
6:00 pm – Cocktail Hour, Mixx, Deck 6, aft.
Dinner – Taste and Savor on Deck 6 aft and The Manhattan Room on Deck 7 aft.
After Dinner – Ship shows and activities – see today’s NCL’s daily program, the Freestyle Daily, below.
Today’s NCL cruise’s schedule of activities
The line to get off the ship was crazy long, driving home the fact that this ship holds just under 4,000 passengers — with about 3000 of them in front of us to get off the ship. Also highlighting the 350-yard length of the ship, the line went from one end of the ship turned the corner at the other end and wound and all the way back to the end we started at to go down the stairs and out.
This was a tender port, which meant the exit line didn’t take you to the dock, but to the side of the ship where you got in the tender boats (capacity 250) to get to shore.
It’s always interesting to see our ship from the shore.
We didn’t do any of the offered excursions at this port, because my long-time friend — from high school! — Kathy Vaillancourt, who lives nearby in Georgetown, ME, met us at the port and gave us a personal tour of the area.
She took us to see Portland Head Light, which is a very popular Portland tourist attraction and one of the stops on many of the paid excursions offered through NCL and BearCruise. It’s easy to understand its popularity, as it’s beautiful.
And nearby cliffs:
People pics there!
Next on our private tour, Kathy took us to her favorite (and pretty much) only place from which she’ll get lobster rolls.
And it did not disappoint. Bob and Kathy got theirs with mayo on them, and I got mine with melted butter. I’ve been disappointed in most lobster rolls that I’ve had, but these were freaking delicious! Maybe because of how fresh the lobster was!
And… drum roll… Bob’s and my sandwiches.
Kathy drove us back to the port, where I sat in the Navis Cafe coffee shop, which was right across the street from our ship, to post Sunday’s and Monday’s blog entries before returning to the ship.
It was so great to see and spend the day with you, Kathy! 😍 And thanks for the lobster-shaped pasta and the THC-laced chocolate caramel confections!
I got back on the ship just in time to get to our BearCruise Happy Hour in the Mixx bar, where a lot of us caught up with each other’s day.
One time when I was ordering more drinks, an old, privileged white lady asked one of the bartenders, “Do you know how to make a martini?” OMG! Then she said, “What I want is some gin added to a Manhattan.” People!
Bob and I had dinner at one of the 3 complimentary restaurants, since we’ve eaten at The Garden Cafe (free buffet-style dining) ever since the day we boarded while waiting for our stateroom to be ready.
Starters: John’s Waldorf Salad comprised Granny Smith apples, grapes, celery, & candied walnuts. Bob’s Cheese Ravioli was topped with a lobster cream sauce.
Entrees: John’s 3-Cheese Baked Ziti comprised parmesan, mozzarella, and ricotta cheeses, mushrooms, with chunky tomato sauce. Bob’s Almond-Crusted Hoki comprised delicate white fish, buttered green beans, and mashed potatoes
Desserts: John had the Bananas Foster (dark rum sauce, vanilla ice cream) and Bob enjoyed the Brownie S’More (Graham cracker and roasted marshmallow cream).
Bob and I had reservations to see this ship’s show this evening but completely forgot about it. Were we drinking?
Step back in time to the era of flannel shirts, scrunchies, and frosted tips with this electrifying new show! Join us for a nostalgic journey through the greatest hits of the decade, featuring chart-toppers from grunge rock to hip-hop to pop sensations. Relive the magic of *NSYNC, Spice Girls, Britney Spears, and more, as our talented performers bring the Bring Back the 90s.
With electric choreography, dazzling costumes, and a playlist that will have you singing along all night, this is a musical extravaganza you won’t want to miss. Party like it’s 1999!
We did meet a bunch of the guys at 10:00 in the Bliss Bar for the ship’s 70s Groove and ABBA Dance Party.
It looked like people figured out what was going on when half the dance floor was men with no female dancing partners. At one point I “shadow danced” behind one of two girls dancing together. I was mimicking her dance steps so that we were dancing in sync, although she didn’t know it. Eventually the girl she was dancing with (and facing me) noticed what I was doing and started laughing, which made the other girl turn around to see what I was doing behind her.
I said to her, “Don’t worry, I’m not creeping on you; I have a husband.”
To which she scream-laughed, “So do I!!!”
“We already have so much in common,” I said.
It was a fun night with the music that Bob and I love — it’s the kind of music we listen to at home.
Naturally, “It’s raining men!” was a highlight song for the gays.
Oh! I checked out the photos from that professional photo shoot yesterday by a ship’s photographer who caught me in the hallway walking from one happy hour to the next, and whom I told I wouldn’t buy any of them. And before leaving I asked him for a coupon, and he gave me one for a free 8X10. (See the end of yesterday’s blog entry for the details.)
At the photography shop purchasing kiosk, there wasn’t a way to add the coupon to get it free, so I called a worker over to help me. He said, “Oh this coupon only works if you’ve purchased the Dining Room Photo Package, which of course I hadn’t.
I told him what the photographer told me, and he said, “I’m sorry, but it’s only good if you have the package.” And then proceeded to tell me how I could go in with 3 or 4 friends to split the $150 package, and then apply this coupon… blah, blah, blah. I said, “I’m not doing that.”
Then before leaving I said, “Since I was mislead, can I just take a picture of this picture on the kiosk? He looked around to see if any of his colleagues were in sight and said as he walked away, “I’m not supposed to allow you to do that, but I’m not looking.”
So, voila! There’s probably some AI photo editing app that would help me remove those words over the photo. It was a fun shot, so I’m posting it here for posterity.
“Does this pose make me look gay?” 😂 😂 😂
Oh my, I’m truly touched to be just a small part of your very exuberant life. You have so much courage that I recognize as a very hard fought reward despite all the bs, back 50 years ago and in almost every situation today. The love and respect you share is a joy to experience. Until next time XXOO
You danced the electric slide? Does this mean next time I see you we can put the music on and do the Electric Slide?
You gotta know it
It’s electric boogie woogie, woogie 💃🏾
I am an Electric Slide whore!” That’s an unqualified “Yes!” to your question. 😍🤓😂
I am so jealous, but I’m smiling at all your fun. Hugs!